Dr. Josef
Cihlar opened the meeting by welcoming the participants: the
chairs of the GCOS Joint Scientific and Technical Committee
and the GTOS Steering Committee, TOPC members, and representatives
of other groups. He also thanked the Environmental Protection
Agency for providing the facilities and the local organisers
(Drs. Kibby and Solomon) for making the necessary arrangements.
Dr. Cihlar emphasised the working nature of the meeting and
the need for dealing with a number of issues, in part as a
result of a 2-year gap between the meetings. He identified
the following broad objectives for the meeting: · Review the
current situation in areas of importance to TOPC and developments
since the last TOPC meeting in 1996 · Complete or significantly
advance tasks undertaken for 1998 · Discuss priorities and
important activities for the next 1-2 years.